sr722_As_introduced_LC_28_3859_2.html
08 LC 28 3859
Senate Resolution 722
By: Senators Shafer of the 48th, Williams of the 19th, Moody of the 56th, Johnson of the 1st, Rogers of the 21st and others

A RESOLUTION


To create the Grady Oversight Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority operates the Grady Health System and Henry W. Grady Memorial Hospital which constitute this state´s largest hospital and health care system; which treat patients primarily from the metropolitan Atlanta area but also treat patients from all areas of the state; and which play a major role in the training of medical professionals in the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Grady Health System and Henry W. Grady Memorial Hospital have experienced and continue to experience significant financial problems which imperil their existence; and

WHEREAS, the continued existence of these facilities is a vital concern to the state as a whole and, in particular, to the local governments of the metropolitan Atlanta area; and

WHEREAS, the operation of the Grady Health System and Henry W. Grady Memorial Hospital by the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority is not only of an interest and concern to the metropolitan Atlanta region, but also is state wide in scope; and

WHEREAS, the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority was created pursuant to the Hospital Authorities Law enacted by the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the members of the General Assembly to periodically review the efficiency and effectiveness with which such authority is meeting its legislatively created purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
(a) There is created the Grady Oversight Committee to be composed of three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The appointed members of the committee shall serve two-year terms concurrent with their terms as members of the General Assembly. The chairperson of the committee shall be appointed for a one-year term of office and shall be appointed for odd-numbered years by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the membership of the committee and for even-numbered years by the President of the Senate from the membership of the committee. Vacancies in an appointed member´s position or in the office of chairperson of the committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) The committee shall periodically inquire into and review the operations, contracts, safety, financing, organization, and structure of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and its operation of the Grady Health System and Henry W. Grady Memorial Hospital, as well as periodically review and evaluate the success with which said authority is accomplishing its legislatively created purposes.

SECTION 2.
The state auditor and the Attorney General shall make available to the committee the services of their staffs, facilities, and powers in order to assist the committee in its discharge of its duties set forth in this resolution. The committee may employ staff and secure the services of independent accountants, health professionals, and consultants. Upon authorization by joint resolution of the General Assembly, the committee shall have the power while the General Assembly is in session or during the interim between sessions to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents in aid of its duties. In addition, when the General Assembly is not in session, the committee shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents in aid of its duties, upon application of the chairperson of the committee with the concurrence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate.

SECTION 3.
The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority shall cooperate with the committee, its authorized personnel, the Attorney General, and the state auditor in order that the duties of the committee, set forth in this resolution, may be timely and efficiently discharged. The authority shall submit to the committee such reports and information as the committee shall reasonably require of the authority in order that the committee may adequately inform itself of the activities of the authority required by this resolution. The Attorney General is authorized to bring appropriate legal actions to enforce any laws specifically or generally relating to the authority or as to any subpoenas issued by the committee. The committee shall, on or before the first day of January of each year, and at such other times as it deems to be in the public interest, submit to the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations based upon the review of the operations of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, as set forth in this resolution.

SECTION 4.
In the discharge of its duties, the committee shall evaluate the performance of the authority in providing public health services consistent with the following criteria:
(1) Public safety;
(2) Prudent, legal, and accountable expenditure of public funds;
(3) Responsiveness to community needs and community desires;
(4) Economic vitality of the health system and economic benefits to the community;
(5) Efficient operation; and
(6) Impact on the health care delivery system of the metropolitan Atlanta area and the State of Georgia.
To assist in evaluating the performance of the authority, the committee may appoint a citizens´ advisory committee or committees. Such citizens´ advisory committee or committees shall act in an advisory capacity only.

SECTION 5.
(a) The committee is authorized to expend state funds available to the committee for the discharge of its duties. Said funds may be used for the purposes of compensating staff personnel; paying for services of independent accountants, health professionals, and consultants; paying necessary expenses of the citizens´ advisory committee or committees; and paying all other necessary expenses incurred by the committee in performing its duties.
(b) The members of the committee shall receive the same compensation, per diem, expenses, and allowances for their service on the committee as is authorized by law for members of interim legislative study committees.
(c) The funds necessary for the purposes of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to and available to the legislative branch of government.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing contained within this resolution shall relieve the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority of the responsibilities imposed upon it under the Hospital Authorities Law.